Cutlery sharpener



Ma 29, 1923. 1,457,073 w. L HORNKE CUTLERY SHARPENER Filed Sept. 1920 1 g .mm: ml

Patented May 29, 1923.

UNITED sr res WILLIAM L. HORNKE or EVANSTON, I LLI NO IS.

CUTLEEY I 'SHARPENER.

Application filed September 7, 1920,. Seria1-No.408,560.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, TVILLIAM L. HORNKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cutlery Sharpeners, of which'the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cutlery sharpeners. v

As distinguished from'thattype of sharpeners in which grinding inst-rumentalities are employed for effecting the sharpening of the tool, the present invention contemplates a device in which the sharpening is accomplished by the removal of a thin sliver or slivers therefrom, dependent upon the angular disposition of the" cutters withrespect to each other, whereby to obtain a fine sharpened edge free from irregularities and burrs and thinned or attenuated proportionately to the thickness of the stock of the tool. Regardless, therefore, of the character of the tool, the edge desired to be imparted thereto readily may be determined and con' trolled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the character mentioned which is of a portable character, thus adapting it to be carried about'with facility and ease, and one which includes means for its rea'dy attachment to a table top, bench or similar location when necessity for itsu'se arises. v

The invention also aims to provide a sharpener for the purposes stated, the construction ofv which is such that the sharpening ofthe tool maybe effected with the expenditure of but minimum effort and 'without the exercise of special skill, and in which construction are embodied simple and ethcient means for adjusting the cutters and holding them in adjusted position to adapt the device to the particular tool to be operated upon. 1

Other objects and advantages will appear as the nature of-the improvements is better understood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

The form of the invention herein disclosed is considered as a desirableembodiment thereof, but this disclosure is to be considered from an illustrative standpoint and,

therefore, is not to be. taken in a restrictive or limiting. sense.

Inthe drawings-. Fig. 1"is aside elevation of a cutlery sharpener constructed "in accordance with. v

the present invention, and illustrated as ap-' plied to a tabletop; i Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a top plan View; 1'- 'Fig'. 4 'is a transverse. sectional view through theupp'er'portion of 'thesharpener,

illustrating the manner in whichthe cutters are held in relative'pos'ition; L,

Fig. 5.is a similar view with a modified.

form of the sharpening instrumentalities;

Referring in detail'to the accompanying drawings, the numeralflO designates a U- Y shaped 1supporting-bracket at: the'lower v end of which is arranged a perforated toe 11, which extends at'right angles to the shank of said bracket,said toe being screw-threaded for receiving a fastening screw12having a winged head '13 for'its convenient-r0 tation. The inner end of said'screw '12 has a clamping button'l4 swivelled 'theretofsaid button being designed toftake' against one surface of the support 15' to which the sharpener is applied." This support; maybe a table top, bench or 'other object'a nd cooperating with said fastening screw is a head 16 arranged at'the upper end of the shank of the bracket, the inner face of which lies parallel with'the toe 11' and .is provided with a plurality of ribs 17 to affordtight engagement of the bracket with the support to which it is applied when the fastening screw 12is properlyadjusted. Associated with the head 16, and merging into the same, is an inclined cutter rest 18.; Thisrest is in the formof an arm, thefupperextremity of which is reduced to provide neck 19,

and said rest 18 affords a support for a,

of highly tempered steel to provide the requisite cutting action,*and their con-- tiguous faces are beveled to provide knife sharpened is drawn. Oneend of each of the edges 21 against which the tool 'to' be cutters -20 is moresharply curved than the I other end thereof,- and inthe associated application of t o the rest '18the correspondingly curved ends are arranged uppermost, in accordance with the thickness of the edge which it is proposed toiimpartto the toolto be sharpened, these correspondingly curved ends thus projecting upwardly beyond the extremity of the rest 18 for the presentation thereto of the tool.

For holding the cutters 20 in applied position to the rest 18 a clamping plate 22 is employed. This clamp is of substantial width so as to extend over the face of the rest 18, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, and its upper end is provided with a pair of spaced lugs 23 which embrace the sides of the neck 19. By the formation of the spaced lugs 23 the upper end of the clamping plate 22 is notched for receiving the cutters 20. The cutters 20 are arranged in the space between the lugs 23, and fit between the neck 19 and the clamp 22, and in this position they are held in the required angular relation to each other as may be required for the shape and thickness of the edge which it is desired to impart to the tool.

The clamp 22 has a perforation intermediate its ends for receiving an anchoring bolt 24, which bolt has asquared neck 25 seated in a corresponding socket in the rest 18, the head of the bolt fitting snugly against the rest 18. .The'threa-ded end of the bolt 24 has a winged nut 26 applied thereto, and surrounding the shank of the bolt 24 is a coil spring 27 which is received by a socket 28 formed in the clamp 22 and surrounding the perforation thereof through which the bolt 24: passes. The spring 27 affords resilient mounting for the clamp 22 and permits the clamp to yield with respect to the rest 18 when the cutters 20 are inserted therebetween. The spring 27, by reason of this yieldingmounting of the clamp 22, enables the clamp to hold the cutters 20 in place during adjustment of the thumb nut 26 for permitting rearrangement of the cutters when it is required to change their angular relation.

Mounted in the rest 18 is a fulcrum screw 29 the free end of which is-rounded and is received by a depression 30 formed in the lower end of the clamp 22. The latter, therefore, finds a support on the screw 29, and by the adjustment of the latter the distance at which the clamp 22 is spaced from the rest 18 may be regulated.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that both the inner and outer ends of the cutters 20, when applied to the rest 18, extend in divergent relation, and in seating. the cutters upon said rest the lower or inner ends thereof are caused to contact with the anchoring bolt 24. A set screw 31 is arranged-in one of the lugs 23, its inner end impinging against one of the cutters 20, and whensaid set screw 31 is tightened pressure is exerted in a direction laterally of the cu-t'ters20 -to hold them in proper relation betweenthe lugs23.

' As "illustrated in Figs. 1 to at, inclusive,

the cutters 20 will act upon opposite sides of the tool to be sharpened. However, where it is desired to operate upon only one side thereof the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 is employed. In this construction but one of the cutters 20 is utilized, a cooperating guide finger 32 being associated therewith. This finger is provided with no cutting edge. Its lower end is provided with a recess 33 designed to receive the anchoring bolt 24 and upon which bolt the finger 32 rests, and said finger is interposed between the set screw 31 and the cutter 20 so that the pressure exerted by said screw upon said finger will act to hold the latter and the cutter 20 in applied position.

The upper end of the clamp 22, between the lugs 23 thereof, is formed into a concave depression 34 to facilitate movement of the tool between the cutters as the tool is being sharpened.

In the use of the herein described sharpener the cutters 20 are assembled in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4:, inclusive, the exposed ends thereof providing a V-shaped notch into which the tool to be sharpened is introduced. This is. ilius trated by dotted lines, and when so introduced the tool is drawn through the space between the cutters. ,As the sides of-the tool are brought into contact with the knife edges 21 a sliver of the stock of the tool is removed from each Side, and from end to end of the cutting edge'of the tool. This action is repeated until the edge has been reduced to the desired degree, whereupon it will be found that the cutting edge as imparted thereto is of therequired sharpness without the presence of irregularities or burrs thereon. Obviously, the V-shaped notch bet-ween the cutters imparts a tapered cross section to the cutting edge of the tool,

and this may be relatively thin or relatively thick in accordance with the angular disposition of the cutters 20 with respect to each other. If but one cutter is employed, as in the construction illustrated in Fig. 5,, the sliver is removed from but one side of the tool, the other side not being acted on.

The invention herein illustrated and del scribed may be used for the sharpening of knives and other implements provided with cutting edges, and by reason of the inclination of the rest 18 the cutters 20 are placed in a convenient position for the applicationof the tool between the same and the drawing of the tool therethrough to effect its sharpening.

By referring to F 4 it will-be observed that by shifting the cutters 20 in respect to each other, as designated by the dotted line position of one of the cutters, the V- shaped space between the exposed. ends of the cutters may be increased, thus enabling a greater taper to be impartedto thegsharpf I 151*claim:

ened edgepf thewtool. By-"reversing the position of the cutters, that it to say, by

arranging the inner ends of the cutters, asv shown-in Fig.4, so as to pro ect at the ex terior-of ithe sharpener, the taper 'ofxthe edge may be decr'eased, the curvature of vthe cutters 20 being somewhat irregular to provide-forthese conditions 'J I II l. A sharpener of class desoribedc" comprising a support, a clamping plate ful crumedat :one of its Lends on said support and havinga' :notch; at its other end,'cutting.

means arranged-inthe notch of the clampji'ngplate, and clamped by:thelatterrto said support, 'and locking means-for holding the plate; and the cutting means in clamped re lation tosaid support. N 1 c 2. A sharpener of the class described, comprising a-support, aclamping' plate fulcrumed at one :of itsends on-said: support and having a notch at. its other end,"cutting means arranged in the'notch ofthe clamping plate and clamped b-y'the latter. to said support, locking means for holding the plate and the cutting means in clamped relation to said support, and a yieldable connection included in said locking means to permit the said support, and means for holding said cutting means in adjustable relation to said clamp. I

5. A sharpener of the class described, comprising an attaching bracket including a perforated toe at one end thereofand a head at'its other end, a fastening sorew'as- 'sociated with said perforated toe and cooperating with said head to hold the bracket in applied position in use, a support carried by said bracket, cutting means associated with said support, a clamp associated with said support for holding said cutting means thereon, and means associated with said clamp for permitting adjustment of said cutting means. v

6. A sharpener of the .class described,

comprising a support, a clamping plate fulcrumed at one of its ends on said support and having a notch at its otherend,

cutting means arranged in the notch of the clamping plate and clamped by the latter to said support, locking means for holding the plate and "thecutting means in ,clampedre I i lation to said support, and meansca'rriedby the plate and cooperating with the cutting A means 'for' adjustably meansin'the notch -otthe-plate.

A sharpener of; the -.:c1aSs, describe comprising; a support, cutting means asso- 'mo'untingfthe cutting:

ciated; therewith, a clamp lassociated'lwith i said support and provided with oppositely disposed vlugs which "embrace vsaid cutting means tdholdtheflatterfiin position: on said support, and means for locking said clamp in relation to said support for locking the,

cutting me ansithereon. a 1 .8. A. sharpener of .the class; described,

comprising a support, cutting; means lasso ciated therewith,pa' clamp associatedziw-ith said support. :and' provided with oppositely disposedlu'gs which embracesaid cutting means forholding thejlatter :on said is'up p0rt,-an anchoring bolt carriedby said sup-- port and passingthrough said. clamp, and I a locking device carried bygsaid bolt -and cooperating, with said clamp to lock F the cutting; meansiin fixed. relation t0 said supt 9. A, stapes; cf t he assldaeiiad,

com risin a su ort' a clam associated therewith, a fulcrum member carried by I said support and with which s-aidclamp engages to space the latter from said support, cutting means arranged between the support and said clamp,and means coopcratingwith said clamp'tojlock the cutting j means infixed relation to said support."

10. A sharpener of the class described, comprising a support, a fulcrumv member carried by said support, a clamp associated with said support and engaging said ful v crum member-to be held in spaced relation thereby with respect to said support,- ananchoring bolt carriedv by said support and passing through said clamp, cuttingmeans arranged between said clamp andsaid sup-.

port, and a locking device carried by said anchoring. bolt and cooperating with the clamp to lock the cutting means in fixed relation to said support.

11. A sharpener of the class described," comprising asupport, a fulcrum member carried thereby, aclamp associated with said support and having one of its ends in' contact with said fulcrurn' member, said clamp being provided ,with oppositely dis posed lugs arranged in spaced relation,cu t-- ting means embraced by said lugs and ar-" rangedbetween said clamp and said sup port, and means cooperating with said clamp tov lock said cutting means in fixed relation to said support.

12. sharpener of tllfl'lClflSS described,-,, comprising a' support, an adjustable ful crum member carrled said support, a clamp having one of its ends in contactwith'said fulcrum member, the other end of sit'i'd ota/mp being pnouided with oppesfxtelw .1 spesed wspaeed h g5; efitting meams unmngembetween said dump and sait sup+ v pohtfiamd embmeed by said lugs', an anchoring bolt carried 30y se'id 'sup*pozrt andlp'a'se ing through ss'add clamp, said :elwmp being puovided with a socket-adjacent to [and surrounding said'i-zmchoringiiboh a spring smznoumding' wsaid b'o'lt' and :seated in said socket; and r a jlockin'g'idevice' carried by said bolt undfcoopemting' with said ielannp to lock the cutting meamsinfixed relaftion to said suppont.

'saidmutters bei I'rg'hevekd to' prowide knife ecl g'es at coi'l espondin'g portions of fihe cutter, and locking mea-ne for holding the q o let'e and =,the cutters in clamped relation to sa'id support.

14L. sharpener :of the class described; comprising @a- "support; a" clamp associated therewith,v on stnohoringabolt camied bysaid support :arndon which rsaid-zclatmp is mount ed, seid clamp being provided with oppositely disposed spaceddu-gs, a; pair of'ireversely curved cutters arranged" between said *1ugs andthe clamp and said-support,

the contiguous :fia'ces of'said cutters "being rbeveled to 'vpnovide .ikni fe :edges iat corresponding TpOlbiOIlS'Of the cutters, the ex posed lends of the eutters' =be'ing 'arnanged in .dimerfgen't ir'ellation 1 and tf eqrming' a *V-ShFaJpe'd space'iforfireceivirng the tool to be sharpened, and means carried Feysaid en'choning bolt and cooperating with =said c1wmp t0 lock the cutters in fixed relation to said-support.

in testimony whereof have hereunto signed my name in the "su'bscribingwitnessesf v VV-ILEIAM L. HORNK'E/ WVitnesses 7 I NEVARRZE GRO'MWIELL,

Mam A. CROMWELL.

presence of :two 

